Exhaust fumes in cab

[Boonieman]

Hello everybody! I've enjoyed reading the forums for some time and finally decided I needed to join in on the fun. I just traded in my 2001. 5 Auto/3. 73's. It was a great truck in every respect, except it was my first auto ever... and I just never was totally happy with it. My 2003 has 1500 miles on it, and is a very much superior truck to my old one in every way..... except for a couple nit-picky points. This new truck seems way more susceptible to getting exhaust fumes in the cab when sitting in traffic. I was wondering if anybody else thinks that, or if it's just my imagination. Also, my old truck would accept the larger size fuel nozzles at the pumps... this one won't. It was hard to find anything to pick about on this truck! I'm in the process of trying to find locations to put stuff in the cab. I have already installed the brake controller, and the way I mounted the cell phone I ought to patent... . but I guess I'll just share the idea with everybody. I've seen some of the ideas for a CB mount, but I'm going to give that a little more thought. I want to avoid the clutter I had in the last truck, at least for awhile. Take care, and thank for the many ideas I've seen on here.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Welcome Boonieman, I've read other post's about fumes in the cab but all I ever noticed was the hot coatings on the engine and now I don't smell anything in there at all (at least not after that all bean burrito diet I was on ). I hadn't realized the thing about the nozzle size, man what a disappointment. I've always enjoyed filling up in large truck stops while pulling a trailer. Now I'm going to have to look for puny nozzles. Do truck stops have the smaller size too? I guess I never noticed.

 

[Boonieman]

I have found out that in a pinch you can still use the larger nozzles, but you have to stand there and hold it and it constantly kicks off. No fun on a cold day, not to mention a little messy. I haven't checked to see if there is something inside the tank filler pipe that could be removed to allow for a larger nozzle... I'll have to check that out. Most truck stops do have at least a couple diesel pumps with the smaller nozzles, but it's apain to have to evem have to worry about seeking them out.



As far as fumes in the cab... definitely exhaust. My 01. 5 would occasionally do that while backing up if all conditions were right. The 2003 just seems a little easier to suck them into the cab. I think they changed the air flow thru the cab and that might have a little to do with it. It doesn't bother me all that bad, but my lovely bride has fussed about it a little. Ha!

 

[turbojet]

Isn't there some thing about flapper valves in the fenders or something like that? I thought I saw something about that and that they could let in some fumes if they are open.

 

[DBVZ]

I just put the first 1500 miles on the new truck this weekend, and the diesel smell in mine was more like raw fuel. It was a problem in the cab with the windows closed, after running at higway speeds for a while with no problems. Slow down or at idle, and I get the raw fuel smell. Also got it at start-up after a short shut-down. It was bad enough I went looking for fuel line leaks, but could not find anything, with it off or running at idle. I stopped at a Dodge dealer Friday late, but their "diesel guy" had gone home early; an no one else had even seen a Cummins/Dodge HO before. Normal?



Another question I had was the high pitched whine after starting cold. Is that just the turbo making noise until it gets oil? The oil pressure was up, but it didn't quit until the temp was up to about 180.



Finally, when I shut down from idle I get this chirp of what I assume is the belts. It is like 1/10 of a second, but I wondered if it was normal.



Thanks for any help.

 

[Boonieman]

My 2001. 5 had the famous "belt chirp" on shutdown, but my 2003 doesn't do it. I haven't noticed any whine on mine during warmup. As far as the turbo, I could hear it very clearly on the 2001. 5, but the 2003 is quiet... I can hear it at highway speeds when I accelerate or decelerate slightly, but not nearly as loudly as the 2001.

 

[preleeguy]

Yes on fumes

I've experienced both types of fumes. The exhaust fumes on these 03 doesn't have the sweet diesel smell of my old truck. This one stinks. I miss the diesel smell in the morning when I warm her up(the truck that is). I also get the fuel smell in the cab at times during the day and it seems to be after a long highway drive as well. I looked over the engine and could only find a small coolant leak at the overflow tube on top of the radiator, but I don't smell any coolant. Do these trucks use a different coolant than a gas car?I get the belt churp every once in a while. No big deal after the old truck. Love the Truck so far though. Still can't believe I bought it. What a pleasure to drive!

 

[Dean Upson]

Do truck stops have the smaller size too? I guess I never noticed.

PD, Most truck stops will have a pump or two with the smaller nozzles. You sort of have to do a quick scan when you go in with your trailer on. Often they will be on the end. I've always liked the smaller nozzles because it is easier to "top off" and I am seldom in much of a hurry.



Dean

 

[dgieson]

I find at most truck stops the pump in closest to the building is the one with the small nozzles.



Dave

 

[dnitzel]

Concerning the exhaust fumes, Geno's Garage sells a filter to fit over the air inlet cowling. Says it filters out most of the smell, IF that's were it's entering the cab at. I've only filled my truck up once, but I did so with the big nozzle. Kinda' thought that hole was smaller?! I did get the tank filled, though.

 

[DHess]

Fumes - I do get an oil smell in the cab once in a while but believe that's from the vent tube - doesn't bother me. Haven't had any fuel or exhaust in the cab unless I was idling with the windows open.



Fueling - I found that the big nozzle will work. The collar on the end of the nozzle doesn't quite fit past the overflow tube at the top of the filler neck but with slight coaxing the nozzle slides right in. If you really want to top off the tank, the big nozzle is NOT the way to go. I have a heck of a time topping off even with the "car" nozzles. When the pump shuts off I can get another 4-5 gallons in - a quart at a time. I usually use the RV island if available.



Dave

 

[gthiessen]

The quick easy way to rid the fumes in the cab when running the heater is to put the heater control to the recirculation position. so you do not get outside air. It has been common for may years in the truck. I'Ave had customers complain for years about fumes. Greg

 

[gthiessen]

The quick easy way to rid the fumes in the cab when running the heater is to put the heater control to the recirculation position. so you do not get outside air. It has been common for may years in the truck. I'Ave had customers complain for years about fumes. Greg

 

[gthiessen]

The quick easy way to rid the fumes in the cab when running the heater is to put the heater control to the recirculation position. so you do not get outside air. It has been common for may years in the truck. I'Ave had customers complain for years about fumes. Greg

 

[Boonieman]

I'll tell ya, a few occasional cab fumes has not changed my opinion on this truck one bit. It is one fine piece of machinery!

Even the smaller fuel spout is no problem, except my normal fueling spot has 4 pumps and only one of them is the smaller nozzle, so fairly often somebody's at that one. But that's not the worst of it. One of my best friends has a Ford PSD and his truck would only accept the smaller fueling nozzles. I used to always tell him that's because he didn't have a REAL truck. I think I'll just keep my mouth shut and maybe he'll never be the wiser.

 

[Badunit]

I didn't notice cab fumes until it got cold enough that I had to have the windows shut. The AC system really seems to suck in the crankcase fumes (and some exhaust fumes as well). I put it in recirc mode as often as I can but the defrost modes are outside air only so I don't have a choice much of the time. I don't mind them much; just something to get used to. I think I'll try extending the vent hose to somewhere under the cab and see if it helps.

 

[nickleinonen]

there is a discussion over on the ford diesel forum about using a crankcase breater kit that welds into the exhaust pipe. this will draw out the crankcase fumes into the exhaust and vent them out the tail pipe. far enough away from the cab i think... when i get mine, i will have to shadetree engineer one of these for mine.



here is the link to the ford forum on this thread for any interested

 

[DBVZ]

The dealer mechanic looked at the truck today, and did not find a leak anywhere. I was into and under it more than he was, and didn't find anything either. He said he gets occasional complaints of diesel smell like I described, even on gas vehicles - because of some of the coatings they have on some of the engine and exhaust parts that need to burn off. I am still skeptical, and if I still get the smell in another 500 miles I will bring it back in. They tell me the chirp is normal also, and the high pitched whine seems to be gone now.



I have filled with both the high volume and low volume nozzles, and found they both work ok. I just need to be careful how far I squeeze the high volume trigger. It really pumps the fuel.



This is a great truck!